JOB

Theme: Suffering

Author: Anonymous

Time: 2000 BC or 950 BC (but not sure)

• Job: persecuted of he who weeps, sorrowful

• We don’t know where this book comes from or when it was written but it’s the oldest book in scripture and it’s about the oldest problem. EVIL

Key Scripture:

Job 2:3 ESV

3 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”

• Upright man… man of character. God is praising Job

Job 13:15 ESV

Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

yet I will argue my ways to his face.

Structure:

Chapter 1-2: Prologue

• Picture in heaven, angels reporting to God in the imperial court of God. The devil comes into the scene. Allowed to test Job

• Kills children, property, destroys health

Chapter 3-27: Consolation and Accusation from bad friends

• Job questions God

Chapter 28: Interlude Hyumn

Chapter 29-42: Discussion of God’s ways

Chapter 38-41: God Answers

Chapter 42: Epilogue

Purpose of the Book:

1. To show with the problem of how suffering can be reconciled with the justice of God

• Theodicy - thinking of the righteousness of God can be reconciled in an unjust world

2. To show Job as God’s example of patience under suffering.

Message of the Book:

1. Bad things happen to good people

2. There is always a reason why bad things happen to good people

• Just because you can’t see the reason doesn’t mean there isn’t a reason.

3. Suffering can be used to bring us closer to God, both personally and relationally

• Suffering is suppose to bring us closer to God in character and knowledge

4. God permits evil to act within the boundaries he sovereignly sets

• He allows evil to permit to a point. He is still in control